A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 5:50-62 In the first three verses of this grouping, Alma testifies of things which he has heard of the Holy Spirit. All of these verses suggest that there is a literal division between the righteous and the wicked. The Kingdom of God is coming quickly, wherein the righteous will dwell. Therefore, one ought to repent of his sins and bring forth works of righteousness if he desires to be a part of this kingdom. How will the righteous be distinguished from the wicked? Or in other words, what type of person will inherit the kingdom of heaven. Also I ask myself, amongst what type of people do I want to enjoy of their friendship and company? In the kingdom of heaven, there are the penitent. They are they who desire to follow the voice of the Good Shepherd. ( vs. 57 ) They are they whose names are written in the book of life. ( vs. 58 ) And it will be God who will separate the wicked from among the righteous. ( vs. 59 ) I am impressed by this thought: that in the kingdom of God, there wi...

Mosiah 26:14-33 An important key to receiving revelation is given in verse 14 . Alma poured out his whole soul to God. Then he was blessed with open communication, and "the voice of the Lord came to him." How often do I get to the point that I am in open communion with God? How quick am I to forget the blessings that can freely flow from heaven? The feelings that I have felt as I have read through these verses are almost too tender to recount herein. There is a beautiful review of the core doctrines of the Gospel of Christ. There are important points also that sometimes get overlooked in basic gospel discussions, such as  the importance of covenants and taking upon us the name of Christ. Verse 23 has caught my attention this morning as being particularly curious and at the same time amazing. Verse 22 states that "And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive." Then the reason for such mercy and kindness: " For it is I that...

2 Nephi 15:17 "Then..." After the destruction of the wicked and after the Lord is exalted in righteousness. "shall the lambs..." The disciples of Christ; the followers of the Good Shepherd. "feed after their manner..." The real question here is whom does "their" refer to? It is in reference to the wicked who had been destroyed. We've read in earlier verses that the unrighteous have these great feasts, but their indictment was that they did not remember the Lord their God. The sheep then, the followers of Christ, are the privileged recipients of those blessings that were first enjoyed by the wicked. The second half of the verse reaffirms this point even more clearly: "And the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat." There is an interesting cross reference to this verse in Isaiah 10:16 which reads: "Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a bur...